Daniel Bell disconnected the call and stared at her phone silently as she thought over the newest development, "Lady?" Ruby inquired as she stared at the Pureblood she had sworn to serve over two decades ago.

  Daniel looked up. "There was an attack in Dals. Someone tried to kill the new Pureblood, Victor Bck. I want a conference call with every Patriarch and Matriarch of note in the region set up for tomorrow night. No excuses; everyone is to be present. Contact Levia. I want her in the air within the hour and on the way to Dals to watch over Victor to assist him and help him," she commanded.

  Ruby flinched, Levia was a former Massad officer before she fled Isreal, and the Middle East Region and Daniel had recruited her about a year ago. While the young Adventurer was considering converting to become a new Vampire, she hadn't accepted it yet. "As you will dy, do you want me to arrange a call with the council as well?" Ruby asked as she bowed.

  Daniel shook her head, "I will deal with the council, once you have completed the calls, I want a copy of the digitized files we have on the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Dals forwarded to Marcus's head of security, I also want it sent to Victor as well." Daniel instructed as she started dialing another number as Ruby scurried off.

  I rubbed my jaw as I turned to look at Adriana, that sp had been hard but at least she hadn't punched me, "Don't ever do that again!" the Tiger-Kin demanded. I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head, "It's my job to keep you alive, at all costs, including my own life. You do not try to keep me safe at the expense of leaving yourself vulnerable, understand?" the Brazilian demanded.

  "I can't and won't leave someone vulnerable in a dangerous situation if I can help them, it's as simple as that. Now can I get out of the SUV?" I asked her.

  I felt a short spike of pain, "NO!" Serafina commented as she rubbed her knuckles after punching me in the kidney.

  I gred at her, but there was no real heat in it. "What was that for?" I demanded.

  She gred at me, "You didn't pick up your phone!" Sara stated slowly like I was an idiot.

  I nodded my head, "Yes, I was in with the detectives and had to get rid of them, then I had to coordinate with Marcus. This hasn't been the best of first impressions, but at least no one ended up dead." I told her as I thought of the missing security guys. If I had done it, I would have offered them a chunk of money to quit their jobs, leaving a body added more information and a trail to follow. "Adriana, you should get a call from Veronica or someone else from security, Marcus said he was going to double the size of both the day and night teams," I told her as I turned my focus back towards the campus.

  I could see Yuki heading towards us and based on her body nguage I assumed she was pissed, "Did you tell Yuki what happened?" I asked the two women.

  Adriana looked back and had a slight smirk on her face before she went back towards concentrating on her phone, "Yes, and Yuki called you, but you didn't pick up." Sara commented.

  I sighed and looked to Tony; the driver just chuckled which earned him a punch in the shoulder from Adriana. I smiled at the other man's discomfort, but it disappeared as Yuki yanked the door open and gred at the two guards fnking it before jumping into the back of the SUV. Before she could do or say anything, I grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.

  I felt her pounding on my side and stomach, but I didn't do or say anything in retaliation just held her and rubbed her back, "I am fine, everyone is fine, no one was hurt." I quietly told her as I felt the SUV pull away from the curb. I kept the mantra up until she stopped hitting me and just clung to me, "I am sorry I didn't check my phone or call you, but I was in the thick of it and dealing with the fallout. I will try to be thoughtful in the future, but I cannot promise I will contact you immediately after any dangerous situation I find myself in." I told her.

  Yuki finally looked up at me and kissed her, at first, she fought it but then she just melted into it as I clutched her harder to me as I palmed her ass. Yuki moaned into my mouth as I enjoyed the firm, taught, and damn near perfect ass in my hand while I kissed her trying to convey everything to her.

  Eventually, it came to an end, "I am still annoyed with you!" Yuki softly stated as I hugged her to my side and kissed her on top of her head.

  Yet I couldn't keep the smile off my face, "I know, I have to walk the driveway to get the quarter mile for my physical training today, why don't you stay with me and we can talk." I offered.

  Yuki gnced towards Adriana, "Are you ok with that?" the Tiger-Kin smiled and nodded.

  Then the Brazilian looked at me, "Your ass is mine for the physical training in the backyard though! However, Yuki can join us for the rub down in the hot tub if she wants." the Tiger-Kin firmly stated causing Yuki to let out a giggle.

  I smirked slightly, "That's fine as long as you understand if you come anywhere near my ass, me and you will have a problem." I told Adriana who smirked and winked. She was certain trouble, "You should get a data packet with dossiers on all the Matriarchs and Patriarchs within the city if you don't already have it. Can I get a summary of everything during dinner?" I asked Adriana.

  The head of the daytime security nodded her head, "Already got it and the added security will come in after sundown, not everyone can be a Daywalker." the Tiger-Kin pointed out.

  "Not like I had a choice in the matter, can you also inform Tim that we will have a working dinner and to keep that in mind when he is making whatever he decides?" I asked her, earning another acknowledgment from Adriana as she called the cook, I assumed as I turned my attention back towards Yuki.

  The little Japanese woman was staring up at me, "Yes?" I prompted her as I hugged her again, earning a slight smile from her as she cuddled into my side.

  "She was worried about, a surprising amount considering how little time has passed between you two," Serafina commented.

  I shrugged my shoulders, "She is a good person, warm, and welcoming, but also in internal fire otherwise she wouldn't be here. That rolls into why I find her attractive mentally, and why she cares that I almost got shot today. Did Adriana call you, she almost got shot as well..." I commented causing the Brazilian to tense up.

  Yuki's face hardened and she pushed away from me and smacked the back of Adriana's head as she started berating her, which earned me a gre from the Tiger-Kin. While she could punish me ter by talking shit during my training, it was well worth it to see Yuki aiming her ire at someone else at the moment. I eventually pulled Yuki back into my p as I rained kisses down on her head and cheek.

  Adriana apologized, and Yuki forgave her. As I focused on my Status, I wanted to know what the icons that were red with gold outlines around them meant.

  Spoiler<<< Current Status >>> --- Buffs --- N/A --- Debuffs --- Desiccated (Stage 1): Feel bouts of irritability and physical weakness, your body processes and consumes blood at a faster pace, and Blood Thirst accrues more quickly. (Duration: Until you recover)Malnutrition (Stage 1): Feel bouts of hunger and thirst, and need to eat more food, water, and sleep, Hunger, Thirst, and Exhaustion Debuffs accrue more quickly. (Duration: Until you recover)

  [colpse]Damn...that expined certain things and I doubted anyone except Vampire could get the first Debuff. "What?" Yuki asked as she poked my chest.

  I shook my head, "Just got a couple of Debuffs from my Intergration and Awakening, the System doesn't give an end time when they will be removed." I told her.

  Adriana reached around and spped my knee, "I told you, sir, it will take a couple of weeks minimum for you to recover, but don't worry about it. Between, Tim, the System, and me, we will get you back into fighting shape as soon as possible. Remember, the System wants you healthy and whole, not like this." Adriana gestured to me as I mused over the constant weakness I felt.

  It was annoying and I wanted it gone, but it wouldn't happen today or tomorrow, just like I wouldn't have survived the Integration without all the training I had endured. I needed to be patient, get to know the people around me, and rebuild my strength but that was long-term, short-term I needed to find out who took a shot at me!

  I felt a brief fsh of pain and gred down at Yuki who had just bitten my nipple, "Get out of your head, just rex. We will figure it out." she told me as she hugged me.

  I leaned down and kissed her before pinching her ass causing her to squeal in surprise, "Paybacks a bitch, be a good girl, or next time I will put you over my p and give you a spanking!" I threatened.